No frowning cheere dare once prefume
In hir sweet face to bee.

Although some lavishe lippes,

Which like fome other best,

Will say, the blemishe on hir browe
Disgraceth all the rest.

Thereto I thus replie,

God wotte, they little knowe

The hidden caufe of that mishap,
Nor how the harm did growe:

For when dame Nature firft

Had framde hir heavenly face, And thoroughly bedecked it

With goodly gleames of grace;

VIII.

THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALLGREEN.

This popular old ballad was written in the reign of Elizabeth, as appears not only from ver. 23, where the arms of England are called the " Queenes armes; "but from its tune's being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time. See the ballad on MARY AMBREE in this volume.-An ingenious gentleman has affured the Editor, that he has formerly feen another old jong on the fame jubject, compofed in a different meafure from this; which was truly beautiful, if we may judge from the only ftanza he remembred: in this it was faid of the old beggar, that " down his neck

his reverend lockes

In comelye curles did wave;
And on his aged temples grewe
The bloffomes of the grave."

The following ballad is chiefly given from the Editor's folia MS, compared with two ancient printed copies: the concluding ftanzas, which contain the old Beggar's difcovery of himself, are not however given from any of thefe, being very different from thofe of the vulgar ballad. They were communicated to the Editor in manufcript; but he will not answer for their being genuine: he rather thinks them the modern production of Jome perfon, who was offenced at the abfurdities, and inconfiftencies, which fo remarkably prevailed in this part of the jong, as it flood before: whereas by the alteration of a few lines, the flory is rendered much more affecting, and is reconciled to probability and true hiftory. For this informs us, that at the decifive battle of Evesham, (fought

(fought Aug. 4. 1265.) when Simon de Montfort, the great earl of Leicester, was flain at the head of the barons, bis eldeft fon Henry fell by his fide, and in confequence of that defeat, bis whole family funk for ever, the king beftowing their great bonours and poffeffions on his fecond fon Edmund carl of Lancafier.

PART THE FIRST.

TT was a blind beggar, had long loft his fight,

He had a faire daughter of bewty moft bright;

And many a gallant brave fuiter had shee,
For none was foe comelye as pretty Bessee.

And though thee was of favor most faire,
Yett feeing thee was but a blinde beggars heyre,
Of ancyent housekeepers defpifed was fhee,
Whose fonnes came as fuitors to prettye Beffee.

Wherefore in great forrow faire Befsy did fay,
Good father, and mother, let me goe away
To feeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee.
Her fuite then they granted to prettye Bessee.
Then Befsy, that was of bewtye foe bright,
All cladd in gray ruffett, and late in the night

Shee went till fhee came to Stratford-le-Bowe;

Then knew fhee not, whither nor which way to goe:

With teares shee lamented her hard deftinìe,

So fadd and fo heavy was prettye Befsee.

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